Improvement in apparatus for rescuing goods from fire



(a. w. STAKER. APPARATUS FOR RESCUING GOODS FROM FIRE.

510.188. 1 31. Patented March 13,1877.

GEORGE W. STAKER, OF MONROE, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR RESCUING GOODS F-RQ'M FIRE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. I88A3l, dated March 13, 1877; application filed February 12, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE W. STAKER, of Monroe, in the county of Jasper and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Rescuing Goods from Fire, &c., and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure l is a front elevation of my improved shelf-truck put up and ready for use. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the truck closed up; and Fig. 4 is one of the hooks for holding it in position.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The object of this invention is to provide a method of removing merchandise from stores and warehouses safely and quickly in the eventol tire; and it consists in arranging shelving for the display of such merchandise upon trucks placed upon inclined tracks, in such a manner that, in case of threatening fire, the trucks may be unfastened and run out in the street, after which they may be. easily brought to places of safety; and it further consists in the construction of the shelving, which is so arranged that'when the truck is moved off the track it shall close itself up automatically, thus protecting the goods contained therein from damage by fire and water, 8t'c.

In the drawin A is a truck, consisting of a low platform, having wheels b,'arranged in the usual manner. Upon this platform is arranged a row of shelving, B, to the top of which is hinged another similar row of shelving, O, the hinges being in front, so that when the two rows are folded together they will form a complete close box. Drawers D D may be arranged under the lower row of shelving, as shown in the drawings. E is a hinged cover, which, when the shelving is in use, is raised above the upper row 0, forming acornice, which, if desirable, may be ornamented in any suitable way.

When the apparatus is to be folded up the cover E is first folded down over the shelving (J, where it is secured by a spring catch or I 0 a slight incline, which will surely cause the row 0 to close down as soon as the truck is started and it is released from its fastenings. G is the track, upon which the truck or trucks A are placed. This is laid at a slight incline, leading down to the street. The house-front must be so constructed that the trucks may pass readily out in the event of fire. The trucks, of which one or more may be placed on the same track, may be coupled together or not, whichever way is found most convenient. The upper shelving G has upon its back side a clamp or staple, h, engaging with a.hook, z, upon an upright, I, which is secured to the track. The cover E has a staple, is, engaging with a similar but much shorter 'hook, K. These hooks will, while the truck is in position in the store, retain the upper row of shelving and the cover E in position, as in Figs.l and 2 but as soon as the truck is started the staple It will immediately become disengaged from the hook K, the result of which will be that the cover E will close down over shelving C, where it is retained by the spring-catch e. The clamp h, upon shelving G, will, in the meantime, become disengaged from hook t, and the shelving 0 will close down over shelving B, thus. forming a complete and close box, as shown in Fig. 3.

The advantages of myinvention will be readily understood from the foregoing description. It enables the entire stock of goods to be easily and quickly removed from stores and Warehouses in case of fire, and, after getting out upon the streets, the trucks may be easily brought to safe places, being provided, in order to assist in manipulating them, with suitablyarranged tongues, as shown in the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. The truck A, in combination with the folding shelving B G, and door E, having spring catch or lock (2, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and specified.

2. The combination of the inclined track G, truck A, having folding shelving B G E, upright I, books i K, and staples h k, the latter arranged upon shelving O and door E, respectively, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. STAKER. Witnesses:

S. WM. JoNEs, J. W. JOHNSTON. 

